Railway signaling system



March 19, 1940. J. w. LOGAN, JR

RAILWAY SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed Jan. 14, 1939 mi/ Q/ mv NToR Joh Logan, Jr BY HIS ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 19, 1940 Unirse STATES RAILWAYr SIGNALING SYSTEM l .lohn W. Logan, Jr., Forest Hills, Pa., assigner The Union Switch & Signal Company,

Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 14, .1939, Serial No. 250,960

18 Claims.

My invention relates to railway signaling sysf tems, and is particularly Well adapted lor, but

not limited thereto, railway signaling systems of the type adapted to govern the operation of a control lever of an interlocking machine, which lever is normally controlled over interlocking circuits but which is controlled at times by a time release device independently of such interlocking circuits.

An object of my invention is the provision, in a railway signaling system of the class described, of novel and improved means whereby the operation of a time release device is prevented at all times except when it is necessary to govern the control leverby such time release device.

Another object oi my invention is the provision in a time release device capable ci storing energy the expenditure of which is governed to provide a predetermined time interval, of novel and improved means for at times preventing the eX- penditure of the energy stored in such device.

Other objects and advantages ci my invention Will appear as the specification progresses.

I shall describe one form o apparatus embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. l is a vertical sectional vieW showing oneV form of a time release device provided with means embodying my invention for at times preventing operation of such device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 'fi-2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viev taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a typical control circuit Which may be used for controlling a time release device embodying my invention when applied to a railway interlocking plant.

Referring to the drawing, the reference character J designates as a whole time release device which may taire any one of several suitable forms, and as here shown is of the type illus' trated and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,802,367, granted on April 28, 193i to A. P. Bartusch and G. V. Jefferson, for Time release mechanism. Device J will be described in connection with the present description only insofar as' is necessary for a complete understanding cf my invention, and as shown comprises in its essential elements, motor means capable oi storing energy,.and control means operatively connected by means of a gear train with such motor means -lor controlling the rate at which energy stored Within such motor means is expended. The motor means of 'device'J com- 'prises a member ,5 rotatable in two directions,`

and biased to return in one direction to a normal position by Vmeans of a spring 6 (see Fig. 3) having one end fastened to a normally non-rotatable shaft and the other end connected with member 5. Member 5 is provided with agear segment l adapted to be engaged by a pinion gear 3 forming a part of the gear train which operatively connects the control means of device J with the motor means. This train of gears comprises, in addition to pinion 8 mounted on a shaft 9 for intermeshing with gea-r segment l, a gear Wheel ID rotatably mounted on shaft 9 and provided with a pair of pavvls l which are biased by a spring l2 into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet Wheel I3 fixed on shaft t in juxtaposition with gear l0, the pawls Il and Wheel i3 cooperating to permit wheel i3 to be rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. l) without eiecting rotation of gear il?, but effecting rotation of gear l in the event that Wheel E3 operates in a counterclockwise direction. Gear Wheel l0 is mounted in intermeshed engagement with a pinion I4 rotatably mounted on a shaft I5, and which shaft l forms a part oi the control means for device J.

The control means Which controls the rate at which energy stored in the motor means of device J is expended, comprises an escapement Wheel I6 Xed on the shaft I5, the teeth of which Wheel I6 are engaged by the pallets of an escapement bar Il' iXed to a rockshaft I8. Rockshaft 3 has mounted thereon a pendulum i9, which controls 'the oscillations of the shaft to thereby control therate at Whichthe energy stored within the motor means of device J is expended.

The device J is further provided with means for rotating member 5 against its spring bias for storing energy in the motor means of the device. As shown, the means comprises a vertically disposed contact operating member or rod 20, which is operatively connected with member 5 by means of a crank member 2l, and which operatesv through a guide. portion provided in an upper supporting member 22 to engage a segment 23. The segment 23 may be the lever segment pro-v vided ior a control lever of an interlocking 'machine, and as` .shown is provided on each end with a cam 24. The time release device is adapted to be secured in fixed relation with a supporting member or frame 25 by means of a supporting lug 26, but segment 23 is adapted to swing to the right or left in response to a movement of the. control lever to aright or a left control position. Rod 20 is normally biased into `engagement with segment 23 by virtue of the action of spring S upon rotatable member 5, and is adapted to be depressed to rotate member 5 in a counterclockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. l) against its spring bias thereby actuating spring 6 to store energy in such spring, when segment 23 is swung to either control position wherein cam 2li actuates rod 2Q. rlhe rotation of member 5 in a counterclockwise direction in response to the actuation of rod 2@ actuates pinion Sand ratchet wheel i3 of the gear train in a clockwise direction, but as was pointed out.

hereinbefore, the actuation of ratchet wheel it is not transmitted to gear wheel iii since the inclination of the teeth of wheel i3 permits the teeth to pass underneath pawls i l without transmittng rotary motion to gear wheel iii.

In order to permit the lever and segment to be swung from its intermediate or normal position as shown to and from its control positions without eiiecting unnecessary operation or expenditure of energy of the time release device J, I provide latching means for controlling the operation of the device. The latching means for device J comprises in its essential elements a locking member 39, biased into engagement with either the control means of the device or the gear train connecting such control means with the motor means of the device J, and which member 30 is adapted to be controlled by an electromagnet 2i against its bias out of -latching engagementA with the device J to permit the operation of the device. As herein shown, the latching means comprises electromagnet 2 suitably fastened to supporting member 22, and provided with an armature 28 pivotally attached to upper supporting member 22. Armature 23 is operatively connected by means of a horizontally extending member 29 with locking member 3E), the locking member 30 being biased by means of a spring 3| connected with member 29 and with a supporting lug 32 fastened on the supporting member 22, into engagement with escapement bar Il. The biased engagement of locking member 30 with escapement bar l1 forces one pallet of the bar into engagement with escapement wheel i6, and thereby prevents the escapement means from operating by over-balancing the effective force of pendulum i9 attached to rock shaft I 8. The armature 28 is so connected with locking member 3d that in the event electromagnet 27 is energized to attract armature 23, locking member 30 is actuated out of engagement with escapement bar i1, thereby permitting the escapement means to operate and pendulum I9 to gOvern the oscillation of rock shaft i8 to control the rate of return or the member 5 to its normal position in response to its bias. It is to be understood, of course, that while locking member 3U is herein shown biased into engagement with escapement bar i, the member 30 may be biased into engagement with escapement wheel It, or with any suitable portion of the gear train connecting the escapement mechanism with the motor means of device J, the essential feature of the latching means being the biased engagement of member 30 with the device J prevents operation of the device in response to the energy stored in the motor means of the dev1ce.

With the apparatus constructed in the manner just described, it is apparent that once segment 23 is swung to one of its control positions so that rod 20 is depressed and member 5 is rotated against its bias, member 5 is retained in its rotated position to retain the energy stored` in the lmeans for device J.

motor means until such time as the segment is swung away from its control position wherein cam 2d engages rod 2G, and magnet 2l, is energized to attract armature 28. That is to say, once member 5 is rotated against its spring bias, the return of the member to its normal position when the segment is swung to its mid position is prevented by the deenergized condition of magnet 2'! preventing the operation of the control It follows, therefore, that once member 5 is actuated to its rotated position to store energy within the motor means of device J, and as long as magnet 21 is deenergized, the

lever may be freely swung into its control and mid positions without eecting operation of the time release device.

With device J in the condition just described, that is, with the lever moved out of its control position so that segment 23 no longer actuates rod t@ (the rod being retained in its depressed position by virtue of the latching means provided for the device), operation of the device may be eiected by energizing magnet 21. When this happens, the movement of armature 28 to its attracted position is transmitted through member 29 to locking member til, thus actuating member 3S out of engagement with escapement bar I'i and permitting pendulum i9 to control the oscillation of rock shaft IS, and thereby permitting the escapement means to control and retard the return of member 5 to its normal position in response to the expenditure of energy stored within the motor means of device J.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a railway signaling system is shown wherein the operation of a time release device, which is eective when operated to govern the operation of a control lever, is controlled to prevent operation of such device except when such operation is necessary to effect control of the lever. In Fig. 4, the reference character 35 designates a control lever which may be adapted to control railway tra'ic controlling apparatus, such as signal S, by Virtue of control circuits omitted from the drawing for the sake of clearness since they form no part of my present invention. As indicated in Fig. 4, lever 35 is preferably a control lever provided for a railway interlocking system.

Railway interlocking systems are usually so arranged tnat when a control lever is operated to condition its traffic controlling apparatus for a train movement, further operation of the control lever in a manner to interfere with the established train movement in prevented by means of a lever lock magnet. The lever lock magnet for each control lever is usually governed by wellknown interlocking circuits, arranged to energize the lever lock magnet for a control lever after the function of the control apparatus governed by such lever is completed, so that the lever may be operated to a new position. Under normal conditions, the interlocking circuits are conditioned by the movement of the train past the control apparatus, to release the control lever for such control apparatus. At times, however, it is necessary or desirable to operate a control lever which has been operated to condition itsv control apparatus for a train movement, to a new position prior to the train passing such apparatus. This and the movement of the lever to the new posi-l tion. The predetermined time interval is usually provided by means of a time release device, such as device J previously described. Device J is adapted to close a circuit controlling contact 38-39 (see Fig. 2) when rod 20 is in its normal or contact closing position, the contact 38--39 being opened When rod 20 is in its depressed or contact opening position.

The control lever 35 shown in Fig. 4 is adapted to be moved to a plurality of positions, one of which is a mid or normal position, and at least one oi the other positions being a control position. As indicated in the diagram immediately below lever 35 in Fig. 4, the lever is adapted to be moved to an extreme leit control position L, a left indication position B, a mid or normal position N, a right indication position D and an eX- treme right control position R. The lever is provided with control contacts, two of Which are indicated on the drawing by the reference characters LB and RD, contact LB being closed when the lever is in or intermediate its left L or left indication B positions, and contact RD being closed when the lever is in or intermediate its right R or right indication D position. The lever 35 is provided with locking means for controlling the operation oi the lever, comprising a segment 35 secured to the lever and engageable by a locking dog 3l disposed in magnetic relationship with a lock magnet 34, the arrangement being such that when lever 35 is moved to either extreme control position, locking dog 31 engages segment 35 to prevent the lever from being moved toward its mid position past the indication position intermediate such control position and the mid position, unless magnet 34 is energized to actuate locking dog 37 out of engagement With segment 3G. Lever 35 is also provided with a segment 23 (see Fig. l) provided on each outer end with a cam ZLl, and with a time release device J, the rod 29 (see Fig. 2) oi device J being biased into engagement with the segment 23 of lever 35. lt is readily apparent that if rod 2!) of device J is in its normal or contact closing position, the operation of lever 35 to either one of its eXtreme positions actuates rod 20 into its depressed or contact opening position, thereby storing energy Within the motor means of device J, and if lever 35 is then restored to its mid position, rod 2K3 is retained at its contact opening position and the energy within device J is retained stored, unless magnet 2l of the latching means for device J is energized.

In accordance with an object of my invention, I provide remotely controlled means for preventing the operation of time release device J except when such operation is necessary to eiect control of lever 35. That is to say, the means controlling device J is arranged so that under ordinary conditions, once lever 35 is operated so that rod 20 of device J is depresse-d to its contact opening position and energy is stored Within the device, subsequent operations of lever 35 under normal conditions do not effect the expenditure of` the energy stored Within device J and consequent return of rod 20 to its contact closing position. As shown in Fig. 4, magnet 2l of the latching means for device J is provided with an energizing circuit passing from one terminal A of a suitable source of current, such as a battery not shown, through back contact 45 of a track relay TRS, front contact 4| of a track relay TR2, lever contact LB or RD of lever 35, and the Winding of magnet 21 oi device J to the other terminal C of the source of current. Relay TRI as shown is usually the track relay provided for the track section in approach of signal S controlled by lever 35, and relay TR2 is usually the track relay provided for the track section in advance of signal S. It is readily apparent that magnet 2l of device J is energized to permit device J to operate its contact 38-39 closed only in the event that a train is on the approach section for signal S. It can be seen that, With magnet 27 of device J energized, an initial movement of lever 35 to move rod 25JV of device J out of engagement with segment 23 of lever 35 results in the operation of device J in response to the energy stored therein. As Was pointed out heretobeiore, operation of lever A35 to a new position While a train is on the section in approach of signal S governed by lever 35, is an abnormal condition requiring an enforcement of the predetermined time delay. It follows that with rod 28 of device J operated to its contact opening position, any movement of the lever 35 under normal conditions will result in maintaining the energy stored in device J since magnet 21 is not energized under normal conditions, but that under abnormal conditions When magnet 2l is energized and lever 35 is moved to operate segment 23 out of engagement With rod 2i), the device J operates its rod 2li to the contact-closing position, the actuation of the rod being controlled at a uniform rate as Was pointed out hereinbefore to provide a predetermined time interval prior to contact 33-35 closing. When contact 353-39 closes, a simple circuit passing from terminal A through contact 35i-39 of device J and the Winding of lock magnet 34 of lever 35 to terminal C is completedwhereupon lever 35 is unlocked and can be operated to its new position independently of the interlocking circuits.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that I have provided traffic controlled means effective to maintain energy stored Within a time release devlce during all operations of the control lever under normal conditions, but releasing the energy stored to permit the time release device to control the operation of the control lever under abnormal conditions. It is .readily apparent that since unnecessary operation of the time release device is prevented, undue wear of the operating elements of the device is prevented. It is further apparent that since the control l-ever actuates the contact operating member to its contact opening position only after the member has been released to its contact closing position due to the abnormal conditions hereinbefore referred to, the operating load on a control lever is considerably lessened during normal operations of the lever.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatus embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: i

1. In combination with a time release device controlled by the operation of escapernent means having an escapement bar engaging an escapement Wheel, latching means for biasing said escapement bar into engagement with escapement Wheel for preventing the operation oi said escapement means, and magnetic means for controlling said latcldng means for permitting said escapement means to operate.

2. In combination with a time release device controlled by the operation of escapement means having an escapement bar engaging an escapement wheel, spring biasing means for biasing said escapement bar into engagement with said escapement wheel for preventing the operation of said escapement means, and magnetic means for controlling said spring biasing means for permitting said escapement means to operate.

3. In combination with a time release device controlled by the operation of escapement means having an escapement bar engaging an escapement Wheel, a locking member, means for biasing said locking member into engagement with said escapement bar for preventing the operation of said escapement means, an electromagnet, and means governed by said electroinagnet for moving said locking member against its bias out of engagement with said escapement bar.

4. The combination with a time release device controlled by the operation of escapement means having an escapement bar engaging an escapement wheel, of magnetic latching means for said escapement means comprising an electromagnet having an armature, a locking member operatively connected with said armature for movement to a disengaged position when said electromagnet is energized, and means effective when said electromagnet is deenergized for biasing said locking member into an engaged position with said escapement bar for preventing the operation of said escapement means.

5. A time release device comprising a member movable in two directions, a spring normally biasing said member in one direction to a normal position, means for moving said member in the other direction against the bias of vsaid spring to another position, an escapement mechanism for retarding the return of said member from said other position to its normal position, and latching means operatively connected with said member for at times preventing said member from returning to its normal position in response to its bias.

6. A time release device comprising a member movable in two directions, a spring normally biasing said member in one direction to a normal position, means for moving said member in the other direction against the action of said spring to another position, an escapement mechanism operatively connected with said member and effective when operating for retarding the return of said member to its normal position, and latching means for said escapement mechanism effective at times for preventing the operation of such mechanism whereby said member is prevented from returning to its normal position.

7. In a time release device of the type wherein a member movable in two directions is biased to return in one direction to a normal position and is provided with escapement means for controlling the return of said member in response to its bias to said normal position, the combination with said escapement means of a magnetic latch effective at 'times to prevent the return of said member in response to its spring bias to said normal position.

8. In a time release device of the type wherein a member movable in two directions is biased to return in one direction to a normal position and provided with escapement means for controlling the return of said member in response to its bias to said normal position, the combination with said escapement means of a locking member normally biased into engagement with said escapement means for conditioning said eslcapement means to prevent the return of said first member to its normal position, and electromagnetic means operatively connected with said locking member for at times withdrawing said member from engagement with said escapement means whereby said escapement means is conditioned to control the return of said first member to its normal position.

9. In combination with a lever of an interlocking machine, a time release device having a motor means, means operable when said lever is moved to a control position for storing energy in said motor means, and remotely controlled means for at times retaining the energy stored in said motor means when said lever is moved away from its control position.

10. In combination with a manually operable lever adapted -to control railway signaling apparatus, said lever operable to a normal and to a control position, locking means for controlling the operation of said lever, a time release device having a contact operating member biased to a rst position and operable to a second position, means governed by said Contact operating member for controlling said locking means, means efective when said lever is operated to its control position for operating said contact operating member to its second position in opposition to its bias, and remotely controlled means effective at times for maintaining said contact operating member in its second position when said lever is operated to its normal position.

11. In combination with a lever adapted to control railway signaling apparatus governing traffic on a stretch of railway track, said lever operable to a normal and to a control position, locking means for controlling the operation of said lever, a time release device having a contact operating member biased to a rst position and operable to a second position in opposition to its bias, means effective when said contact operating member is in its rst position for controlling said locking means, means eiective when said lever is operated to its control position for operating said contact operating member to its second position, and trafc controlled means for maintaining said contact operating member in its second position when said lever is restored to its normal position.

12. In a railway interlocking system of the type wherein the operation of a control lever is governed by locking means controlled under normal conditions by interlocking circuits and under abnormal conditions the locking means is controlled by a time release device adapted to provide a predetermined time interval prior to a contact operating member of such device being operated to its contact closing position wherein said locking means is controlled, the combination with such time release device, of means operative when said contact operating member is operated to its contact opening position in response to the operation of said control lever to its control position for maintaining said contact operating member at its contact opening position during all subsequent movements of said control lever until such time as said abnormal conditions require the operation of said contact operating member to its contact closing position.

13. In a railway interlocking system of the type wherein the operation of a control lever is governed by locking means controlled under normal conditions by interlocking circuits and under abnormal conditions the locking means is controlled by a time release device adapted to provide a predetermined time interval eiected by the expenditure of energy stored within such device prior to such device establishing control over said locking means, the combination with such locking means of a time release device comprising motor means adapted when said control lever is operated to a control position for storing energy in said time element device, means for maintaining the energy stored in suoli device during all subsequent lever operations under normal conditions, and means effective during abnormal conditions for releasing the energy stored within such time release device for establishing control by such device over said locking means.

14. In combination, a stretch of railway track provided with a track section including a track relay, a signal for controlling traiiic operating over said track section, a lever for controlling said signal, contacts for said lever, a lever lock for controlling the operation of said lever, a time release device for controlling said lever lock, and means governed by said track relay and said lever contacts for at times preventing the operation of said time release device.

l5. In combination, a stretch of railway track provided with a track section including track relay, a signal for controlling traiic operat 1g over said track in advance of said track section, a lever for controlling said signal. contacts on said lever, a lever lock for controlling the operation oi said lever, a time release mechanism for controlling said lever lock, means for preventing said time release device from. controlling said lever lock, and circuit means governed by said track relay and said lever contacts for rendering said means ineffective to prevent said time release device from controlling said lever lock.

16. In a time release device, a motor, a Vertically reciprocable rod operable between two extreme positions,means operativelyconnecting said rod with said motor and elective when said rod is operated to one of its extreme positions for storing energy in said motor, control means operatively connected with said motor for controlling the rate at which energy stored in said motor is expended to restore said rod to the other of its two positions, latching means operatively connected with said control means for at times retaining said rod in its said one position and i'or retaining energy stored in said motor, and electromagnetic means for controlling said latching means.

' 17. In combination with a lever of an interlocking machine, said lever being operable from a normal to a control position, a time release device having a reciprocable rod operable between two extreme positions, means operable when said lever is moved to its control position vfor operating said rod to one of its extreme positions, motor means operatively connected with said rod and effective at times to operate said rod to the other of its two positions, and remotely controlled means for governing said motor means to be effective to ope ate said rod at times when said lever is moved from its control position.

18. The combination with a railway interlocking ssteni` having a control lever adapted to control railway traiiic controlling apparatus proded for a stretch of railway track, said lever 'ng operable to normal and control positions, -d lever also having locking means controlled tarder normal conditions by interlocking circuits to be effective to permit an operation of saidv lever, a time release device effective at times to control said locking means to permit operation of said lever, said device naving a reciprocable rod operable between two extreme positions, said rod in one of its extreme positions conditioning said device to be effective to control said locking means, said device having means eiective when said lever is operated to a control position for operating said rod to the other of its two positions, said device also having motor means eiective to operate said rod to its said one position, and means responsive to a movement of said lever and effective when and only when said lever is moved during the interval said interlocking circuits are ineffective to control said locking means for causing said motor means to be effective to operate said rod to its said one position.

JOHN W. LOGAN, JR. 

